Hot

It's 90 out there, according to my computer. Ugh. So I'm in here, with the fans running, eating some outrageously delicious Häagen Dazs thing with chocolate-and-nut-covered chocolate ice cream. I was so proud to get my ice cream home still frozen. It was in two paper sacks, under a bag of newspaper and two pillows in the hot car for over an hour yesterday.

Don't think I'm a Häagen Dazs regular – there was big sale at Fred Meyer. And we don't have air conditioning.

So my brother and his wife and son came to visit last week, and brought my big little sister and her son as a surprise. It was awesome. I haven't seen my sister since 1982? or so, and had never met my 18-year-old, 6-foot-tall nephew. That's because I'm a terrible sister and a lousy aunt. It's true. My friend Darrell once said that people who moved around a lot as kids have a hard time staying connected with friends and family. I think he's right. New town, new people. In with the new, out with the old. Out of sight, out of existence, I guess. Whatever the reason, I'm defective in the familial responsibilities/keeping in touch area. I vow to do better.

Anyway, they were fun. My sister is funny and easy to talk to. My bro is the same. His wife is  the nicest person. And their grown son has reinvented himself – he was a country kid, hunting and fishing all the time, then he up and moved to Seattle and is now all urban and hip. I so respect that. Not that big-city living is my idea of fun (especially driving in Seattle!) but that he decided what he wanted to be, and made it happen.

I suppose it's hard as a parent to see your kid reject the home and lifestyle you chose for your family, though. I guess I am a little disappointed in our own kids who have middle-class aspirations and eat white bread and fast food. Not a hippie among them. At least none of them is an investment banker.

I think I need another ice cream bar.

C. just came in from hanging laundry and announced that she had washed the dark clothes with Smokey the angora rabbit's pink rug. "Hopefully a good, stiff breeze will come up," she said. "Otherwise I'll have to get the leaf blower out." Huh.